Rusty Costanza / The Times-PicayuneIndicted Gretna councilman Jonathan Bolar, second from left, at a Gretna City Council in July after Mayor Ronnie Harris appointed Milton L. Crosby, left, to Bolar's seat. A judge ruled today Bolar is the rightful councilman.

Nearly two months after he was ousted in an apparent political coup, Jonathan Bolar is expected to return to the dais Wednesday for a special Gretna City Council meeting, after a judge ruled Friday that he is the rightful 1st District council representative.

Last week, Bolar sued Mayor Ronnie Harris and Milton Crosby, who was appointed by the council as Bolar's replacement, in an effort to regain his seat. Bolar's attorney, Marion Floyd, argued the move was improper, but Gretna City Attorney Mark Morgan said the council acted within its legal right.

On Friday, Judge Conn Regan of the 24th Judicial District Court sided with Bolar and forbade Crosby from taking the 1st District council seat. A jubilant Bolar smiled in the courtroom and hugged a supporter outside.

"He's in, " Floyd said as they walked out of Regan's courtroom in Gretna. "Crosby's out. Councilman Bolar is in his seat."

Based on the ruling, Bolar retains the council seat until an election is held, Floyd said.

"Obviously, we're disappointed, " Morgan said.

Bolar -- indicted by a federal grand jury in May on charges of extortion, tax evasion and illegal structuring of bank transactions -- had said the council illegally removed him for personal reasons.

The issue arose when district council members' terms ended June 30 after the April elections were postponed pending federal approval of a redistricting plan. The following day, the council, without Bolar present, voted itself back into office, and appointed Crosby, a former city recreation supervisor, to the 1st District seat.

Bolar attempted to retake the seat during the council's July 8 meeting, but Crosby wouldn't budge. After being rebuffed at two subsequent meetings, Bolar was allowed to address the council from the audience, once again arguing that the council's action was illegal.

In Regan's court, Morgan argued Friday that a combination of state laws gave the council the authority to reappoint its members and appoint Crosby after their terms expired. Citing the Lawrason Act, which governs municipalities without home-rule charters, Morgan said the council's actions were mandatory.

Floyd called Morgan's legal argument "circular."

"We haven't figured out how to start and how to end that argument, " Floyd told Regan.

Floyd argued that another state law would allow the sitting council as of June 30 to he held over until an election. Regan agreed the hold-over provision applies.

That position was shared by Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, who continued to recognize Bolar as the 1st District councilman and refused to issue a commission to Crosby.

Bolar named Dardenne in his lawsuit but dismissed him as a defendant before Regan ruled Friday.